MONTGOMERY – Hudson Valley Gives began nine years ago with what Elizabeth Rowley, one of its founders, described as “an idea, a hope and a dream.”
What was once just a concept, has evolved into a fundraiser that has raised approximately $3.5 million for a diverse group of nonprofit organizations in Orange, Sullivan, Ulster, Putnam, Dutchess, Rockland, and
Westchester counties over the last decade. The Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS) started the initiative to provide organizations with a unique opportunity to reach online donors and raise awareness about their missions and causes.
The 24-hour event, which is driven by social media, is set for Wednesday, May 15th. To register, go to www.hvgives.org. The opportunity to reach thousands of new potential donors and boost their agency’s visibility exponentially through social media and marketing.
“It has been a wild ride with a lot of bumps along the way,” said Rowley, President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Orange and Sullivan (CFOS). “But it has been a success, and we are very proud of what has been accomplished through Hudson Valley Gives. The Community Foundation saw it as an opportunity to extend our mission in managing charitable funds. It is a chance to engage new folks with so many cool causes and lets those organizations fundraise in new and creative ways.”
Approximately 70 nonprofits raised $143,000 in the first year of Hudson Valley Gives. Last year’s fundraiser was its most successful yet, raising $704,288 for 197 local nonprofits. Habitat for Humanity of Greater Newburgh, Dutchess County SPCA, SUNY Orange Foundation and Second Chance Foods received the most donations among the participating nonprofits.
“The generous support that we receive not only sustains our mission to build a bridge between the community and special needs families, but also the acknowledgement to our athletes and their families that this community is cheering them on,” said Stefanie Kostenblatt, Executive Director Beautiful People, Inc., a non-profit offering adaptive sports for children and young adults with disabilities in Orange County. “Every donation – no matter the amount – is celebrated and appreciated and will be used to provide, expand, and ensure adaptive sports are here to stay.”
Kostenblatt said that Beautiful People raised approximately $30,000 last year via Hudson Valley Gives from 200 donors. There is a diverse array of other local causes to support, which also include arts groups, ambulance corps, libraries, historical societies, museums, farmland and environmental preservation groups, food pantries, human service organizations, health agencies and hospitals, recreation and youth groups, scholarship funds, and veterans’ organizations.
“I think CFOS and Hudson Valley Gives really does a great job promoting donating local and giving where you live,” said Kellyann Kostyal-Larrier, Executive Director of Fearless! Hudson Valley, Inc. Fearless! provides support and programs to victims of domestic violence, teen dating violence and human trafficking. “It creates excitement and gives us an additional platform to raise funds and promote our platform. It is also an important awareness tool which helps us reach those impacted by domestic violence.”
